The third section of the C1 Advanced (CAE) Speaking exam can feel challenging. Your performance in this part depends on how well you interact with your partner, not only on what you say by yourself. In the main task, the examiner gives instructions and written prompts, but you discuss the task with your partner. If you or your partner is shy or does not feel confident speaking with someone you do not know, this part may be difficult. But don’t worry; this article will help you improve your performance in C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3. Continue reading to learn more.
Overview of C1 Advanced (CAE) Speaking Part 3
This third part of the speaking exam is also called a collaborative task. The examiner gives you and your partner spoken instructions and a task sheet with written prompts. Part 3 does not use photographs; photographs are used in Part 2. You are given a short time to look at the task before you start speaking. For a pair of candidates, you discuss the written prompts with your partner for about two minutes. After that, the examiner asks another question that requires you to make a decision. You then have about one minute to discuss it with your partner and work toward a decision.
The theme of this part is usually broad and familiar enough for discussion. It may be about communication, decision-making, education, work, health, the environment, or other general topics. Sometimes, you may need to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different options. For example, in a communication-related task, you may be asked to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different ways of communicating. At the end, you may need to answer a related decision-making question, such as which options are the most or least effective.
The purpose of this part is to show whether you can hold a conversation with another candidate in English. It evaluates how well you exchange ideas, express and justify opinions, agree or disagree politely, make suggestions, speculate, evaluate options, and negotiate toward a decision. Examiners also assess your grammar, vocabulary, discourse management, pronunciation, interactive communication, and overall speaking performance.
Tips & Techniques to Increase Your C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 Score
The overview above may have made you wonder how you can score well in this part of the exam. The good news is that you can improve with the right strategies. If you follow these tips, you can feel more confident in the collaborative task.
Tip 1: Ask Questions
Are you shy and unsure how to start a discussion? Asking questions is a good way to begin. The same is true in the collaborative task of the Speaking exam. Start the discussion with your partner by asking for their opinion. For example, in a communication-related task, you could ask: “Which of these ways of communicating do you think is the most effective nowadays?” or “Which option do you think is the easiest for most people to use?” In this way, you and your partner can open up to each other and begin developing the discussion.
Tip 2: Talk About the Advantages and Disadvantages
The discussion can be developed by talking about the advantages and disadvantages of the given options when the task asks you to do so. You can tell your partner the advantages you see in a particular option. If your partner mentions some advantages, you can agree with them and then add disadvantages or another point of view. For example, in a communication-related task, you could say that email can be a fast, inexpensive, and widely used way to communicate. You could also mention its disadvantages, such as the fact that it may not be ideal for urgent or sensitive conversations, or for communicating with people who have limited internet access. In this way, you can develop the discussion naturally in C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3.
Tip 3: Include your Partner in Every Step
During the discussion, don’t forget that both you and your partner are being evaluated. You should include your partner throughout the task. Allow them to say what they think. You can agree or disagree with them politely, but keep them engaged in the discussion. You should react to your partner’s ideas and ask for their views on different points, which is especially important in C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3. Don’t use all the time speaking by yourself. Engaging your partner in the discussion shows the examiner that you can take turns, respond appropriately, and collaborate in English.
Tip 4: Give Proper Time to Each Topic
You are usually given five written prompts to discuss, but you are not required to discuss all five. Some candidates get stuck on one prompt and use most of their time on it. Others rush through every prompt without developing their ideas properly. Both approaches can weaken the discussion.
Our advice is to manage the time wisely. Try to discuss several prompts in enough depth rather than trying to mention all of them quickly. Move from one prompt to another naturally by using linking phrases such as “Shall we move on to…?” or “What about this one?” At the end, use a clear closing sentence when the examiner asks you to make a decision.
Tip 5: Making a Choice
In C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3, you will be asked to make a decision related to the prompts you discussed with your partner. Use the one-minute decision-making phase to work toward a decision together. Ask your partner about their choice, discuss its advantages and drawbacks, and explain what you think could be a better choice. It is okay if you and your partner do not fully agree before the time ends. What matters is that you negotiate, justify your ideas, and respond to your partner. When answering, make your choice clear and mention the reasons for your decision.
Tip 6: Things to Avoid
Candidates make several common mistakes in this section. You should avoid irrelevant talk, going off-topic, dominating the conversation, interrupting your partner, relying only on nodding or other non-verbal communication, and sitting silently. Examiners can only assess the language you produce, so make sure you speak, respond, and contribute clearly.
If you follow these instructions, you can perform much better in C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3.
We hope that this article on C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
